CARNIVAL’S 110,000-TON CARNIVAL FREEDOM OFFERS YEAR-ROUND SIX- AND EIGHT-DAY
CARIBBEAN CRUISES FROM FORT LAUDERDALE

MIAMI — Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom, which operates year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., offers a truly unique vacation experience, with a host of “resort-style” amenities and an exciting array of stunning public rooms and facilities, each with a character all its own. 

Carnival Freedom’s year-round schedule from Fort Lauderdale encompasses six-day cruises departing Sundays and visiting Key West, Fla., George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica and eight-day voyages departing Saturdays alternating to the eastern and western Caribbean.

Eight-day eastern Caribbean voyages visit five ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.V.I.; Antigua, Lesser Antilles; Tortola/Virgin Gorda, B.V.I.; and Nassau, The Bahamas. Western Caribbean cruises include Cozumel, Mexico; Limon, Costa Rica; and Colon, Panama.

PUBLIC ROOMS AND AREAS
Designed by Carnival’s award-winning architect Joe Farcus, the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom features an interior design theme that takes guests on a journey through the centuries by decade. From ancient Babylonia to the heyday of disco, from the 19th-century Victorian era to the contemporary style of the 1990s, the public rooms of Carnival Freedom celebrate many periods in time.

Highlights include the ship’s Victorian show lounge named after Britain’s Queen Victoria and designed to evoke theaters in London’s West End with ornate moldings, fancy marble and gold leaf; Studio 70 dance club, which recreates the ambiance of the famed Studio 54 disco in New York with black interior, spinning mirror balls hanging from the ceiling, and pulsating lights; and Player’s Sports Bar, which shines with chrome, sports medallions and memorabilia highlighting the 1950s, often referred to as the “golden era of sports.”

Among other decades represented in Carnival Freedom’s public rooms are the 1770s in the Monticello Library, evocative of the American colonial style; the 1910s in Scott’s piano bar, named after ragtime piano master Scott Joplin; the 1930s in Swingtime jazz club, hearkening back to jazz’s early days; and the 900s in the Dynasty Room, an homage to ancient China.

DINING OPTIONS
Carnival Freedom offers a wide variety of formal and casual options, including the stunning Chic and Posh formal dining rooms with extensive menus and wine lists; a casual poolside restaurant, Freedom Restaurant, with full breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and a 24-hour pizzeria, along with a New York-style deli, an Asian specialty station, a grille and a rotisserie; and Sun King, an intimate reservations-recommended steakhouse serving U.S.D.A. prime dry-aged beef, chops, seafood and other cuisine.

Dining room menus also include vegetarian dishes and children’s menus, as well as Spa Carnival Fare, delicious health-conscious menu items that are lower in fat, sodium, cholesterol and calories. The ship also features a patisserie and a sushi bar, as well as complimentary 24-hour room service and ice cream and frozen yogurt. 

ON-BOARD PROGRAMS
‘CAMP CARNIVAL,’ ‘CIRCLE C,’ ‘CLUB O2’ – Building upon Carnival’s distinction as the family cruise leader carrying 670,000 children annually fleetwide, Carnival Freedom offers organized programs for three different age groups – Camp Carnival for 2- to 11-year-olds, Circle “C” for 12- to 14-year-olds, and Club O2 for 15- to 17-year-olds – with supervised activities and expansive, modern facilities for each.  Carnival Freedom also houses four swimming pools, including a children’s wading pool and an aft pool offering a 214-foot-long water slide.

‘HEALTH AND FITNESS FACILITY’ – Fitness has become an important part of everyday life and guests sailing on the Carnival Freedom can take advantage of the ship’s 14,500-square-foot “Spa Carnival” facility, which features exercise equipment, a gymnasium, and body and facial treatments, including a number of exotic “European-style” therapies. The ship also features a salon offering a variety of hair, nail and make-up services. 

CARNIVAL’S SEASIDE THEATRE- Carnival Freedom also features the line’s popular “Carnival Seaside Theatre,” a massive 270-square-foot LED screen on Lido Deck displaying movies, concerts, sporting events, and other programming, including a “Morning Show” hosted by the ship’s cruise director.  Utilizing the same technology featured in large stadiums and New York’s Times Square, the state-of-the-art entertainment system includes a 70,000-watt sound system, providing concert quality sound, even outdoors.

SPACIOUS ACCOMODATIONS- As part of Carnival’s fleetwide stateroom amenities, all Carnival Freedom’s staterooms feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system, featuring plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and duvet covers, fluffy pillows and high quality sheets and linens. All accommodations include terrycloth bathrobes and all staterooms offer in-cabin amenity kits with a variety of brand-name product samples for men and women. 

INTERNET CAFÉ, WI-FI ACCESS, CELL PHONE SERVICE – Like all “Fun Ships,” Carnival Freedom offers an Internet café with private stations featuring flat-screen monitors, along with Wi-Fi access available in virtually all public rooms and areas.  Guests can also make and receive cell phone calls whether the ship is at sea or in port.

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The new 113,300-ton Carnival Splendor, which made its U.S. debut in late November, docked along side the 110,000-ton Carnival Freedom and Carnival Glory in St. Thomas, U.S.V.I., earlier this week.  Collectively, the three ships carry 8,954 passengers on a double occupancy basis.

 Carnival Splendor will operate a winter schedule of seven-day Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., through January 31 before embarking on a series of South America voyages, which will position the vessel for year-round week-long Mexican Riviera sailings from Long Beach, Calif., beginning March 29.

Carnival Freedom began a year-round schedule of six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale Nov. 30; Carnival Glory operates year-round Caribbean cruises from Port Canaveral, Fla.

          Port Everglades’ Director of Business Development Carlos Buqueras (right) presents Carnival Freedom Captain Orazio D’Aita with a plaque during a shipboard reception commemorating the inaugural call of the 2,974-passenger SuperLiner to Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

            The event celebrated the start-up of the ship’s new year-round six- and eight-day Caribbean cruise schedule from Fort Lauderdale.

            On this program, six-day cruises depart Sundays and visit Key West, Grand Cayman, and Ocho Rios, while eight-day voyages departing Saturdays alternate to the eastern and western Caribbean. Eight-day eastern Caribbean voyages call at San Juan, St. Thomas/St. John, Antigua, Tortola/Virgin Gorda, and Nassau, while the western route includes Cozumel, Limon (Costa Rica), and Colon (Panama).

            Carnival Freedom entered service in March 2007 and offers a variety of on-board amenities and features, including 22 lounges and bars, four swimming pools, four restaurants, expansive spa and children’s facilities, and a 270-square-foot LED screen poolside on Lido deck displaying movies, concerts, sports and other programming.

                Carnival Cruise Lines’ 2,974-passenger Carnival Freedom, which was originally scheduled to operate six- and eight-day Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on a seasonal basis, will now operate the program year-round, following the conclusion of its 2008 Mediterranean program in October.  

            Carnival Freedom’s year-round schedule from Fort Lauderdale begins November 22, 2008, with six-day cruises departing Sundays and visiting Key West, Fla., George Town, Grand Cayman; and Ocho Rios, Jamaica, while eight-day voyages departing Saturdays alternate to the eastern and western Caribbean.

Eight-day eastern Caribbean voyages visit five ports: San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas/St. John, U.S.V.I.; Antigua, Lesser Antilles; Tortola/Virgin Gorda, B.V.I.; and Nassau, The Bahamas. Western Caribbean cruises include Cozumel, Mexico; Limon, Costa Rica; and Colon, Panama.

According to Lynn C. Torrent, Carnival’s senior vice president of sales and guest services, “The Caribbean is, by far, the most popular cruising region for North Americans.  It is easily accessible and affordable, and when combined with attractive, destination-rich itineraries such as these, a Caribbean cruise represents the ideal vacation choice for consumers.”

Torrent noted that while the plan had been for Carnival Freedom to return to Europe in 2009, the strong performance of the line’s entire Caribbean fleet made the new six- and eight-day deployment a compelling choice.

Exciting Six- and Eight-Day Cruises

On Carnival Freedom’s six-day cruises, guests can enjoy three distinctly different island experiences – Key West, Grand Cayman and Ocho Rios – each of which offers excellent shopping and dining opportunities, along with a variety of “fun in the sun” activities, including magnificent beaches and watersports. 

Carnival Freedom’s eight-day eastern Caribbean cruises feature five ports – San Juan, St. Thomas (optional shore excursion to St. John), Antigua, Tortola (optional shore excursion to Virgin Gorda) and Nassau – providing consumers a diversity of landside experiences, along with a variety of restaurants, shops and boutiques. A wide range of shore excursions are also offered, including horseback riding, scuba diving, hiking and kayaking.  During an extended evening stay in San Juan, guests can also sample that city’s legendary nightlife.

In addition to historical sites and attractions, including centuries-old ruins, the eight-day western Caribbean cruises to Cozumel, Limon and Colon offer a multitude of dining, shopping and watersports experiences. A number of “adventure-type” tours, including canoeing, and white-water rafting, are featured, as well. From Colon, guests can experience all the wonders of the Panama Canal and even a unique bi-coastal railroad adventure.

Both of these eight-day cruises offer visits to ports that are usually available only on cruises of 10 days or longer.  In addition, these cruises depart on Saturdays and return on Sundays, which allow them to fit into the consumer’s traditional one-week vacation pattern.  

Variety of ‘Fun Ship’ Amenities

            Spanning a length of 952 feet, Carnival Freedom offers a variety of on-board amenities and facilities: a 14,500-square-foot health and wellness facility, a jogging track, a duty-free shopping mall, full casino gambling, and 22 lounges and bars, including a multi-level theater showcasing lavish revues.

            Dining options include two two-level main dining rooms offering extensive menus and wine lists, a 1,200-seat poolside eatery with full breakfast, lunch and dinner buffets and a 24-hour pizzeria, and an elegant reservations-only supper club.

            Family friendly amenities include children’s programs for three different age groups – “Camp Carnival” for kids ages 2-11, “Circle C” for ’tweens, and “Club O2” for older teens – with facilities and activities for each.

            Carnival Freedom also offers a variety of accommodations including a wide selection of balcony staterooms and suites – perfect for scenic cruising.  All Carnival Freedom accommodations feature the Carnival Comfort Bed sleep system with plush mattresses, luxurious duvets and high quality linens and pillows.  Carnival Freedom also houses an Internet Café, along with ship-wide Wi-Fi access and cell phone service.

            Reservations

            Reservations are currently being accepted for the Carnival Freedom’s year-round six- and eight-day voyages from Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Special rates for third and fourth guests sailing in the same stateroom, along with round-trip air supplements from a variety of North American gateways and pre- and post-cruise South Florida land stays, are also available. 

            For additional information and reservations, contact any travel agent, call 1-800-CARNIVAL or visit carnival.com.

So far both guests have blogged about their trip to Miami and their first few hours on board.  The ship sailed yesterday, and already tons of great cuisine enjoyed!